Friends of the Rail Forum

Geoff's Trains has a number of tours in 2011 that may interest group members.

The season kicks off with the Sandstone Gala in April. Sandstone have four
working two foot gauge Garratts and 18 other locomotives that will all be in
steam during the week long event. They have promised a train hauled by all four
Garratts, and with over 200 ex-SAR wagons they can definitely make up a good
train. Also included will be a visit to the Bloemfontein workshops to see
progress on restoration of the NGG11. Details at:
http://www.geoffs-trains.com/SouthAfric ... a2011.html

Our major African event is in May and June. This comprises a series of tours to
different African countries including South Africa. You can either book the full
tour or just one country.

We kick off in Kenya with three days on the metre gauge. Included are number
5918, Mt Gelai, 3020 Nyaturu and number 2409. This is followed by Zimbabwe where
we will spend eight days with the well known Garratt fleet, including Class 14A,
15A and 16A on the main line and the Hwange Colliery Class 15A fleet. Next,
travel by passenger train to Botswana to see the industrial 4-8-2's at Selebi
Phikwe before continuing to South Africa. Our eight day South African steam tour
will include a charter to Cullinan with Friends of the Rail, three days at
Sandstone and a two day visit to Natal for the GMAM Garratt at Creighton. Also
included are the NGG11 and two sugar cane tank locomotives at Ixopo. Details at:
http://www.geoffs-trains.com/africa2011.html

Happy New Year.

Geoff Cooke
Geoff's Trains Limited
http://www.geoffs-trains.com
http://www.geoff-cooke.fotopic.net

Geoff Warren wrote:This is just to mention again the forthcoming steam railtour in Kenya on May 18-21, promoted by Geoff Cooke ( http://www.geoffs-trains.com/kenya2011.html ).
That website information has been updated recently. It is planned that all
three serviceable steam locos will be used. It is most likely that this will be
the first chance for over 30 years to travel in a train hauled by a 24.

You know about the 2010 steam revival with successful local excursions run by
the Museum (Maurice Barasa) and sponsored by Mawenzi Gardens (Francis Waweru).
The organising team are the same plus Geoff Cooke, who has decades of experience
of steam tours in Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. Yahoo EA Steam Group
members with experience of recent steam operation in Kenya (John Ashworth, Isaac
Murage, Kevin Patience and myself) have been advising and will be active "24/7"
before and throughout the tour.

If steam specials are to continue in Kenya, it's vital that the Railway Museum
and RVR can show that steam operation is practical and viable. This tour is
worth supporting, so do mention it to anyone who might be interested, and note
also the pre-tour option for "conventional" Kenyan tourism that is being
offered.